Abstract: The manufacturing process for a filter unit made as an adsorbent moulded element provides for the dry mixing of granules of an adsorbent medium, especially activated carbon, and a granular organic thermoplastic binder medium. The dry mixture is then placed in a mould and compacted. As far as possible, air is excluded from the mixture in the mould when the mixture is heated to a temperature well above the plastic range of the binder medium, and kept at that temperature until carbonization and at least partial coking of the binder medium occur. The moulded element is left to cool and is then removed from the mould. Typically, in a filter unit made in this manner, with an entry side and an exit side for the filtrate, the granules of the adsorbent medium in the adsorbent element are fixed in the residual structure of the carbonized and openpored, partially coked organic binder medium having micropores.